The Moment of Empire

A discussion of the rise and fall of hyperpowers. Drawing on comparative historical case studies, Chua provide a unique perspective on the importance of tolerance in the ascent to power and the emergence of intolerance in the period of decline.

In a little over two centuries, America has grown from a regional power to a superpower, and to what is today called a hyperpower. But can America retain its position as the world’s dominant power, or has it already begun to decline?

Historians have debated the rise and fall of empires for centuries. To date, however, no one has studied the far rarer phenomenon of hyperpowers – those few societies that amassed such extraordinary military and economic might that they essentially dominated the world.

Now, in this sweeping history of globally dominant empires, Amy Chua explains how hyperpowers rise and why they fall.

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wald0
While I agree with this beautifully charming author’s point of view it should be noted that other historians have cited Rome’s assimulation of other cultures into their own as a reason they fell. Especially the practice of letting foreigners hold key posistions, such as Govenor or Ceasar. According to their writings many of the so called “true Romans” begin to feel that being Roman meant nothing because everyone was or could be Roman, it no longer stood for civility, honor, etc. in their opinions. Rome also had gone through Helenization and many of the Elders felt Rome’s great military tradition, upon which their original culture was founded, was in danger of being suplanted by Greek traditions such as philosophy and liberal arts education. These historians say that due to this loss of patriotism amongst the citizens Rome was poisoned from the inside, the citizenry would no longer fight to protect it, they began to strongly rebel against taxation, etc.- according to these guys it was the beginning of the end. Basically their case boils down to saying that Rome over reached and expanded the empire beyond their ability to control as well as corrupting what it meant to be Roman by allowing foreigners to hold key posistions of Roman pride.
Guy Haratani
I just realized this was the author of the controversial ‘Tiger Mom’ book. She is incredibly astute here, equally as engrossing as Jared Diamond’s social observations. I had to really examine the concept of tolerance as not one of acceptance, but quite the opposite, to tolerate means to dislike, but to ‘allow’ for the sake of some advantage. Incredibly insightful and provocative in light of where we are today and where we are going. A terrific thesis that should be a welcome counterpoint to George Friedman’s book ‘The Next 100 Years’ that posits that the USA will dominate the globe through control of the world’s oceans. Wow. I love this series of videos.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZMK6YNWJACHQ5CRCJW5TNYFURI KsDevil
Interesting. The idea that opportunistic tolerance builds great nations also means that intolerance destroys great nations. It would seem that increasing intolerance in the US and the use of outsourcing rather than economic expansionism are the methods that will reverse the process.